Can Volunteers Drive Their Own Car for My Nonprofit?

The short answer

Yes, a volunteer can drive their own car for your nonprofit, church or school. But their own insurance is the first line of coverage — not your organization's. Confirm their license and insurance before they start, and ask your insurer about non-owned auto coverage.

Whose insurance covers what

A volunteer driving their own car uses their own insurance first.
Your organization should confirm the volunteer's license and insurance before they drive on your behalf.
Ask your insurer about adding non-owned auto coverage to your policy.
A volunteer driving your organization's van is covered by your policy only if the policy allows volunteer drivers. Ask your insurer before anyone gets behind the wheel — don't assume.

What Florida's volunteer protection law does — and doesn't — cover

Florida's Volunteer Protection Act (Fla. Stat. 768.1355), along with the federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997, limits a volunteer's own personal liability for ordinary negligence while acting within the scope of a nonprofit's activities.

These laws do not protect your organization, and they do not cover gross negligence or driving. Driving is a separate risk that this law does not solve — insurance is what solves it.

Before anyone gets behind the wheel

Ask to see the volunteer's driver's license.
Ask to see proof of their own auto insurance.
Call your insurer and ask about volunteer accident coverage and non-owned auto coverage.
If they'll drive your organization's van, confirm with your insurer that your policy allows volunteer drivers.

What's not certain here

This page is general guidance, not legal or insurance advice. Volunteer Match FL is not a lawyer or an insurance agent and can be wrong. Confirm coverage with your insurer, and screening requirements with the Florida Department of Children and Families or your licensing agency, before volunteers drive or work with children or seniors.

What to do next

Tell the free tool what the role involves — including any driving — and it reads your own details to write the role, flag the insurance and screening steps that apply, and point you to where to post. No account. Nothing you paste is stored.

The full version — $19

Recruiting kit · One role: write-up in three formats, sign-up form, volunteer agreement, screening checklist, thank-you

Use the free tool

Volunteer Match FL gives general guidance about recruiting and screening volunteers in Florida; it can be wrong, and it is not legal or insurance advice. Screening requirements depend on your program's licensing — confirm with the Florida Department of Children and Families or your licensing agency, and coverage with your insurer. Nothing you paste is stored.